@jonan58.bsky.social
Off on our annual vacay - first stop Tokyo!
June 26, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Off on our annual vacay - first stop Tokyo!
BEING ALIVE at the Hayes was a missed opportunity. Great idea to use some of the less well-known songs, but without context they lost impact. The casual atmosphere gave it an amateur and under-rehearsed feel. And the voices were a mixed bag with only Raphael Wong really consistently delivering.
June 25, 2025 at 10:04 PM
BEING ALIVE at the Hayes was a missed opportunity. Great idea to use some of the less well-known songs, but without context they lost impact. The casual atmosphere gave it an amateur and under-rehearsed feel. And the voices were a mixed bag with only Raphael Wong really consistently delivering.
With the fabulous Christine Hochkins at lunch in Bowral today.
June 25, 2025 at 4:30 AM
With the fabulous Christine Hochkins at lunch in Bowral today.
June 23, 2025 at 3:16 AM
With a smart script by Alex Garland, energetic direction by Danny Boyle, and a quality cast, 28 YEARS LATER offers more than just another gory zombie movie. There are still some disappointing plot holes, but when it boils down to the story of a son trying to save his mother, all is forgiven
June 22, 2025 at 12:38 PM
With a smart script by Alex Garland, energetic direction by Danny Boyle, and a quality cast, 28 YEARS LATER offers more than just another gory zombie movie. There are still some disappointing plot holes, but when it boils down to the story of a son trying to save his mother, all is forgiven
Celine Song’s first feature post the sublime PAST LIVES doesn’t match the huge emotional impact that film had, but MATERIALISTS is quite a few notches above the usual rom-com due to intelligent writing and the sheer charm of the 3 leads - Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans and Pedro Pascal.
June 15, 2025 at 5:59 AM
Celine Song’s first feature post the sublime PAST LIVES doesn’t match the huge emotional impact that film had, but MATERIALISTS is quite a few notches above the usual rom-com due to intelligent writing and the sheer charm of the 3 leads - Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans and Pedro Pascal.
The great Jessica Lange is the perfect choice to play THE GREAT LILLIAN HALL - an actress dealing with the onset of dementia just as she is about to open on Broadway in The Cherry Orchard. Kathy Bates does her best ‘Thelma Ritter’ as Lillian’s assistant; Lily Rabe is excellent as Lillian’s daughter.
June 13, 2025 at 6:38 AM
The great Jessica Lange is the perfect choice to play THE GREAT LILLIAN HALL - an actress dealing with the onset of dementia just as she is about to open on Broadway in The Cherry Orchard. Kathy Bates does her best ‘Thelma Ritter’ as Lillian’s assistant; Lily Rabe is excellent as Lillian’s daughter.
Lunch with long-standing friends in Petersham today - Paul Hanlon, Robbie Austin, Lyle and Lisa Van Der Veer.
June 12, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Lunch with long-standing friends in Petersham today - Paul Hanlon, Robbie Austin, Lyle and Lisa Van Der Veer.
Thought-provoking and hilarious play now running at the Seymour Centre. Fresh off it’s Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play, EUREKA DAY looks at the vaccination vs anti-vaxx argument in a progressive private school in California. A great cast delivers in a smart, timely play.
June 11, 2025 at 2:23 AM
Thought-provoking and hilarious play now running at the Seymour Centre. Fresh off it’s Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play, EUREKA DAY looks at the vaccination vs anti-vaxx argument in a progressive private school in California. A great cast delivers in a smart, timely play.
An absolutely wonderful 3-part documentary, currently streaming in 3 parts on SBS in Australia, about the extraordinary Norwegian actress who dominated films in the latter part of the last century. She has aged gracefully and her warmth and humanity shine through as she guides us through her life.
May 25, 2025 at 10:40 PM
An absolutely wonderful 3-part documentary, currently streaming in 3 parts on SBS in Australia, about the extraordinary Norwegian actress who dominated films in the latter part of the last century. She has aged gracefully and her warmth and humanity shine through as she guides us through her life.
Without doubt one of the best things streaming at the moment, with Tom Hardy leading the charge as the fixer for an Irish crime family. Tense, violent and superbly cast. Absolutely first-rate.
May 22, 2025 at 2:47 AM
Without doubt one of the best things streaming at the moment, with Tom Hardy leading the charge as the fixer for an Irish crime family. Tense, violent and superbly cast. Absolutely first-rate.
I had high hopes that the rumoured final film in the MISSION IMPOSSIBLE franchise would be the highlight of the series. But it ended up being the worst except for MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 2. The action scenes and stunts went on forever, the story had terrible lapses in logic and it was way too long.
May 20, 2025 at 7:03 AM
I had high hopes that the rumoured final film in the MISSION IMPOSSIBLE franchise would be the highlight of the series. But it ended up being the worst except for MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 2. The action scenes and stunts went on forever, the story had terrible lapses in logic and it was way too long.
Up in Orange to see the local production of COME FROM AWAY. As close to professional theatre as you are likely to see, and with the incredible Charlie Parker stopping the show with ME AND THE SKY. Lovely catch up with her for breakfast the following day.
May 18, 2025 at 12:26 AM
Up in Orange to see the local production of COME FROM AWAY. As close to professional theatre as you are likely to see, and with the incredible Charlie Parker stopping the show with ME AND THE SKY. Lovely catch up with her for breakfast the following day.
Despite the co-screenwriting credit for James Schamus , who co-wrote the original film with director Ang Lee, THE WEDDING BANQUET remake lacks energy, a good story, vibrant cinematography and (apart from Youn Yuh-Jung and Joan Chen) solid acting. Extremely disappointing.
May 12, 2025 at 7:22 AM
Despite the co-screenwriting credit for James Schamus , who co-wrote the original film with director Ang Lee, THE WEDDING BANQUET remake lacks energy, a good story, vibrant cinematography and (apart from Youn Yuh-Jung and Joan Chen) solid acting. Extremely disappointing.
A stunning, thought-provoking documentary on the importance of the ocean to humanity and the destruction that industrial fishing has wreaked (and how it can be reversed). David Attenborough brings credibility and a lifetime of experience to this authoritative expose. A message film for everyone!
May 11, 2025 at 6:31 AM
A stunning, thought-provoking documentary on the importance of the ocean to humanity and the destruction that industrial fishing has wreaked (and how it can be reversed). David Attenborough brings credibility and a lifetime of experience to this authoritative expose. A message film for everyone!
Season 2 of POKER FACE has arrived on Stan in Australia and the first episode, offering a sensational multi-character role for Cynthia Erivo, is a sign of great entertainment to come. Natasha Lyonne continues her fabulously droll performance as the murder-solver on the run.
May 9, 2025 at 9:42 AM
Season 2 of POKER FACE has arrived on Stan in Australia and the first episode, offering a sensational multi-character role for Cynthia Erivo, is a sign of great entertainment to come. Natasha Lyonne continues her fabulously droll performance as the murder-solver on the run.
ITALO - a great new eatery in Bowral. Open for breakfast and lunch Wed through Sunday. Great ambience, delicious coffee and snacks…and heading back to try their lunch menu this week.
April 29, 2025 at 2:45 AM
ITALO - a great new eatery in Bowral. Open for breakfast and lunch Wed through Sunday. Great ambience, delicious coffee and snacks…and heading back to try their lunch menu this week.
Celebrating Robbie Austin’s 70th birthday (again!) with friends Annie and James with a BBQ at the Bowral homestead today.
April 20, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Celebrating Robbie Austin’s 70th birthday (again!) with friends Annie and James with a BBQ at the Bowral homestead today.
THE PRODUCERS at the Hayes Theatre is outrageous, hilarious and brilliantly cast. What director Julia Robertson achieves on that tiny stage is astounding. Kudos to an ensemble of brilliant performers who create comic madness. The energy on stage is infectious and the audience lapped it up.
April 16, 2025 at 7:49 PM
THE PRODUCERS at the Hayes Theatre is outrageous, hilarious and brilliantly cast. What director Julia Robertson achieves on that tiny stage is astounding. Kudos to an ensemble of brilliant performers who create comic madness. The energy on stage is infectious and the audience lapped it up.
Neglected Musicals tonight at a new venue - the Foundry Theatre behind the Star Casino. The production of KISS ME KATE (a staged reading with piano accompaniment) was great fun and a chance to hear Joshua Robson’s stunning tenor voice fill the auditorium as Fred/Petruchio.
April 14, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Neglected Musicals tonight at a new venue - the Foundry Theatre behind the Star Casino. The production of KISS ME KATE (a staged reading with piano accompaniment) was great fun and a chance to hear Joshua Robson’s stunning tenor voice fill the auditorium as Fred/Petruchio.
Coffee at gorgeous Boston Ivy in Mittagong with Lisa and Carol. The autumn colours are really turning the Highlands into a Fall spectacular.
April 13, 2025 at 11:35 PM
Coffee at gorgeous Boston Ivy in Mittagong with Lisa and Carol. The autumn colours are really turning the Highlands into a Fall spectacular.
Celebrating Robbie Austin’s 70th birthday in Bundanoon today. Old friends were present both in person and via Sondheim’s song from MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG which Chris Hamilton and I sang with accompaniment from Jayne Hamilton.
April 13, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Celebrating Robbie Austin’s 70th birthday in Bundanoon today. Old friends were present both in person and via Sondheim’s song from MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG which Chris Hamilton and I sang with accompaniment from Jayne Hamilton.
THE AMATEUR was a nice surprise. A revenge espionage thriller with great locations (inc fabulous Istanbul), a smart story and a reliable cast starting with Rami Malek and including Laurence Fishburne, Jon Bernthal and Julianne Nicholson. Very entertaining.
April 12, 2025 at 6:57 AM
THE AMATEUR was a nice surprise. A revenge espionage thriller with great locations (inc fabulous Istanbul), a smart story and a reliable cast starting with Rami Malek and including Laurence Fishburne, Jon Bernthal and Julianne Nicholson. Very entertaining.